KARACHI: President Mamnoon Hussain said on Friday the government was committed to provide merit-based quality higher education to all segments of society.

The future of Pakistan lied in its sound education. Nearly 50 per cent the was below the age of 25, which was the real future and builder of Pakistan. “Our future lies in their hands,” he said while speaking at a dinner hosted in his honour by the IBA Alumni Association here,

The President himself is an alumnus of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi.

Mamnnon Hussain said, “If we want this huge raw potential to be transformed into a most valued asset, our principal focus must be on imparting quality education to these young minds.”

In this context, a great responsibility lies on the shoulders of academic institutions, especially the higher-education institutions, for preparing a workforce that could not only boost the economy, with honesty, integrity and sheer hard work, but could also become
good human beings and law-abiding Pakistanis, he added.

“I assure you that the present government is committed to providing merit-based, quality higher education to all segments of society, and shall not falter from its resolve despite challenges”, said the President.

He thanked IBA for hosting a wonderful evening and wished it success in its future endeavours.

“I sincerely hope that the future generations of Alumni will continue to uphold the traditions and standards set by their predecessors and make the country proud”, Mamnoon Hussain said.

He said it was like homecoming.”Not because I am returning to the Governor’s House, but because I am present among the alumni of my alma mater. It makes me feel young again.

“To be present here among the graduates of IBA is indeed a great pleasure and nostalgic. It reminds me of my cherished memories- mostly all pleasant.”

Secondly, the President added, it was always good to see so many old friends around.

He also thanked the IBA management for providing this opportunity of re-union and all his friends, who had travelled from various places to rekindle and rejuvenate memories of the days that

“we all spent at such a distinguished seat of learning”.

Mamnoon Hussain appreciated a few Alumni, who had come from overseas. He said almost five decades had passed since he graduated from the IBA, yet the cherished memories spent there still brought a smile to his face.

He said that whatever he was today, he owed it to his alma mater- the IBA and that he was indeed grateful to all of the teachers, faculty and colleagues for their guidance, patronage and companionship.

The President said the history of IBA was nearly as old as Pakistan itself. Only a handful of institutions could claim this honour.

“But what truly distinguishes IBA is the consistency with which it has been serving the country and has been infusing the most talented lot into the society.”

He also acknowledged unrelenting efforts of the Dean and Director of IBA Karachi, Dr. Ishrat Husain, and the Board of Governors, who had worked really hard to take the institution to the position where it stood today.

It was Dr. Ishrat Hussain’s visionary leadership that steered the IBA into a new era, he added.

At a time when the economy was at an ebb, Dr. Ishrat Hussain managed to raise almost Rs 5 billion, turning the IBA into an institution of excellence, commensurate with its legacy and prestige.

His efforts were not just restricted to infrastructural development but are aimed at bringing the academic environment at par with international standards, he remarked.

Mamnoon Hussain said he would like all the academic institutions of the country to emulate such examples.